He's one of the biggest and most popular athletes in the history of the city of Louisville, and now he's getting a long-overdue honor.

In November, Darrell Griffith will be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. The 2014 induction class is just the ninth in its history.

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Griffith helped University of Louisville basketball win its first national title in 1980, and he is the biggest name in the program's 100-year history.

"It was nothing that I expected, so when people say it's about time for me, I'm thankful for the time that it's here. I never expected it, so I'm just grateful that it happened," said Griffith.

Griffith is part of a class that includes Grant Hill and Shaquille O'Neal. It's a fantastic class and an honor Griffith said he isn't taking for granted.

"When someone honors you for an accomplishment in a sport that you played, it's always a humbling experience and something that you appreciate," said Griffith.

Griffith said he never thought of himself as a hall-of-famer, but feels fortunate to have set goals and achieved them.

"I set a goal for myself and made that public that before I left Louisville, we were going to win a championship. That wasn't being arrogant or being cocky, that was just, you know, kids have to set goals for themselves and be passionate enough to go after them," said Griffith.

These days, Griffith's a special assistant to UofL President James Ramsey and said he hasn't dunked since 1994. He doesn't even play much anymore, except to prove the occasional point.

"I'll play horse with some guys and shut them up, to let them know the jump shot still lives, but I'd be trying to do some stuff that I can't do that I think I still can do. I'm too old to rehab," said Griffith.

Griffith's induction into the college basketball hall of fame is set for Nov. 23 in Kansas City.